Michigan may be sitting on a secondary with real star power, but Kyle Whittingham isn’t pretending the room is fully built yet.
Speaking with Michigan alumnus Rich Eisen on his TV show on Monday, Whittingham said the Wolverines have talent on the back end, but the experience level is still a concern as fall camp approaches.
“Little thin in the secondary as far as guys that have accumulated a lot of reps,” Whittingham said. “Same with linebacker - we’ve got some really good young players but not a lot of reps accrued in that position group either.”
That’s a notable read on a defense that could feature several players with NFL Draft buzz next spring. Whittingham’s point, though, seemed less about the starters and more about what comes after them.
“Defense in general - Jay Hill is a proven commodity on the defensive side of the ball as a coordinator,” Whittingham said. “And we’ve got some good players; a little thin at some positions, but I think the top 11 players are going to be very formidable.”
A report from On3’s Chris Balas on Wednesday added another layer to the picture, saying Michigan’s staff believes the secondary can be one of the team’s strengths when healthy. The biggest name in that conversation is sixth-year safety Rod Moore, who is trying to get back to his old self after missing most of the last two seasons while recovering from multiple knee surgeries.
“He is feeling better than he’s felt in two years,” Whittingham said of Moore, per Balas. “He’s ready to go. So knock on wood, hopefully he’s able to make it through the season because he’s a difference maker for us.”
Moore brings the kind of experience Michigan badly needs, with college football reps dating back to 2021. Even so, the group around him still has plenty to prove.
Memphis safety transfer Chris Bracy turned heads during spring practice and is expected to push for a starting spot next to Moore, but he has not played at this level before. Balas also reported that Hill has been encouraged by the progress of Mason Curtis and Jordan Young, though both still need more consistency.
At cornerback, Michigan looks much more settled. Jyaire Hill is back after starting every game last season, and expectations remain high for him.
Utah transfer Smith Snowden is expected to line up on the other side, with Zeke Berry projected for nickel duties. Snowden and others could also see time at nickel in certain packages.
“Outside, we’ve got Jyaire Hill, a tremendous corner,” Whittingham said, per Balas. “And Smith Snowden, he’ll play the opposite corner of Jyaire. We think those two guys are really special.”
There is also optimism about sophomore cornerback Shamari Earls, who is expected to be one of the first defensive backs off the bench. Junior safety Jacob Oden and junior cornerback Jo’Ziah Edmond are two more names to keep an eye on.
The big picture is clear: Michigan may have one of the most talented starting secondaries in the country, but that confidence depends heavily on health and on the younger depth pieces taking a real step forward. As fall camp opens next week, building that kind of reliability behind the starters looks like one of the Wolverines’ biggest jobs. If they get it done, this secondary has a chance to be among the nation’s best in 2026.
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